Search Results (67)

As cities grow denser, the demand for efficient parking systems becomes more critical to reduce traffic congestion, fuel consumption, and environmental impact. This paper proposes a smart parking solution that combines deep learning and algorithmic sorting to identify the nearest available parking slot in real time. The system uses several pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models—VGG16, ResNet50, Xception, LeNet, AlexNet, and MobileNet—along with a lightweight custom CNN architecture, all trained on a custom parking dataset. These models are integrated into a mobile application that allows users to view and request nearby parking spaces. A merge sort algorithm ranks available slots based on proximity to the user. The system is validated using benchmark datasets (CNR-EXT and PKLot), demonstrating high accuracy across diverse weather conditions. The proposed system shows how applied mathematical models and deep learning can improve urban mobility through intelligent infrastructure. Full article

The growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in high-tech and green energy sectors has prompted renewed exploration of unconventional sources. Drill cuttings, which are commonly discarded during subsurface drilling, are increasingly recognized as a potentially valuable, underutilized secondary REE reservoir. This review adopts a mineral-first lens to assess REE occurrence, extractability, and recovery strategies from drill cuttings across various lithologies. Emphasis is placed on how REEs associate with specific mineral host phases ranging from ion-adsorbed clays and organically bound forms to structurally integrated phosphates, each dictating distinct leaching pathways. The impact of drilling fluids on REE surface chemistry and mineral integrity is critically examined, alongside an evaluation of analytical and extraction methods tailored to different host phases. A scenario-based qualitative techno-economic assessment and a novel decision-tree framework are introduced to align mineralogy with optimal recovery strategies. Limitations in prior studies, particularly in characterization workflows and mineralogical misalignment in leaching protocols, are highlighted. This review redefines drill cuttings from industrial waste to a strategic resource, advocating for mineralogically guided extraction approaches to enhance sustainability in the critical mineral supply chain. Full article

Zero-dimensional graphene quantum dots (GQDs) present unique optoelectronic properties in the large-spectrum range from UV to visible. However, the origin of luminescence in GQDs is still a debatable question. Therefore, the present work investigates the features of trap-mediated and edge-state-functionalized group-associated luminescence enhancement of GQDs. The attached functional groups’ involvement in the upsurge of photoluminescence has been discussed theoretically as well as experimentally. In addition, the role of the aromatic ring, the functional group attached, and their positions of attachment to the aromatic ring to tune the emission wavelength and Raman modes have been elucidated theoretically as well as experimentally. We found that in the case of the –OH group attached outside of the aromatic ring, the long-range π hybridization dominates, which suggests that the emission from this model can be dictated by long-range π hybridization. In particular, we found that oxygen-containing functional groups attached outside of the aromatic ring are the main source of the luminescence signature in GQDs. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) indicates that the –OH functional group attached outside of the aromatic ring perfectly matched with our experimental results, as the experimental bandgap (2.407 eV) is comparable with the theoretical simulated bandgap (2.399 eV) of the –OH group attached outside of the aromatic ring. Full article

Today, there is the roar of sustainable material development around the globe. Green nanotechnology is one of the extensions of sustainability. Due to its sustainable approach, the green fabrication of nanoparticles has recently surpassed their classical synthesis in popularity. Among metal nanoparticles, contemporary findings have demonstrated that bimetallic nanoparticles possess more potential for different applications than monometallic nanoparticles due to the synergistic effects of the two metals. So, we are presenting facile, one-vessel, and one-step phyto-fabrication of Ag–Fe BMNPs using the bud extract of Syzygiumaromaticum. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-VIS, XRD, EDX, FTIR, and SEM. The synthesized NPs and the extract underwent biological studies. The radical scavenging potential of the NPs and the extract was found to be 64% and 73%, and the insecticidal potential was found to be 80% and 100%, respectively. Similarly, the NPs and the extract both exhibited good antibacterial activity. The zone of inhibition using 100 mg/mL of extract and NPs was found to be 1 cm against all bacterial species, i.e., K. pneumonia, E. coli, and S. aureus. It was 1.5 cm, 1.3 cm, and 1 cm against K. pneumonia, E. coli, and S. aureus, respectively, showing that the antibacterial activity of the extract is higher than that of the NPs. So, this study unlocks the synthesis of Ag–Fe bimetallic nanoparticles using eco-safe, cost-effective, facile, and least-harmful green methodology with potential applications of both NPs and SA extract in medical and agricultural fields, a step towards sustainability. Full article

Due to increasing concerns and pressure from stakeholders, firms are eager to initiate green initiatives to produce ecofriendly products and services, which are less harmful for the environment. Consumers are willing to pay high prices for ecofriendly products and services. Thus, firms need a motivated workforce to achieve their green objectives. This is only possible if firms adopt their green policies in their green shared vision and start socially responsible activities to gain society’s and stakeholders’ attention, which is possible if firms start CSR activities at regular intervals. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of “Green Human Resource Management” (GHRM) on the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR), green shared vision (GSV), and voluntary green work behavior (VGWB). Employees of manufacturing companies were the participants of the present study and a non-probability convenience sampling technique was employed to determine the sample size. Data were gathered from manufacturing companies using a cross-sectional survey method. The total number of firms included was 100, and information on the firms included in the study included cement (10), sugar (26), leather (22), steel (8), food (21), beverages (2), furniture (3), construction (2), pharmaceutical (2), plastic (2), and dairy (2). The total number of questionnaires distributed among employees of the above-mentioned manufacturing firms was 700, and 500 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis, thus yielding a response rate of 71.42%. Using the smart PLS partial least square software (Version 4), the structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was applied for the statistical analysis. It was evident from the results that the measurement model had established convergent and discriminant validities. A structural model for testing hypotheses was established in the second step. Findings of the study revealed that CSR, GSV, and GHRM practices and VGWB were significantly related with each other. CSR, GSV, and GHRM have significant effects on VGWB. Additionally, it can be inferred from the results that GHRM significantly mediated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and green shared vision and VGWB. From Pakistan’s perspective, the research study has applied and validated the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory, and practitioners and researchers may benefit from its findings. This study has opened doors and paved a path for future studies to use this model and come up with interesting findings by adding more mediating variables. For any organization, it is imperative to have a motivated team which is capable enough to help firms to achieve their green targets. Hiring talented and hardworking employees and initiating socially responsible activities help firms to obtain a competitive advantage and enhance the VGWB of their employees. Full article

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as a fundamental framework for interconnected device communication, representing a relatively new paradigm and the evolution of the Internet into its next phase. Its significance is pronounced in diverse fields, especially healthcare, where it finds applications in scenarios such as medical service tracking. By analyzing patterns in observed parameters, the anticipation of disease types becomes feasible. Stress monitoring with wearable sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) is a potential application that can enhance wellness and preventative health management. Healthcare professionals have harnessed robust systems incorporating battery-based wearable technology and wireless communication channels to enable cost-effective healthcare monitoring for various medical conditions. Network-connected sensors, whether within living spaces or worn on the body, accumulate data crucial for evaluating patients’ health. The integration of machine learning and cutting-edge technology has sparked research interest in addressing stress levels. Psychological stress significantly impacts a person’s physiological parameters. Stress can have negative impacts over time, prompting sometimes costly therapies. Acute stress levels can even constitute a life-threatening risk, especially in people who have previously been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia. To offer a proactive solution within the realm of smart healthcare, this article introduces a novel machine learning-based system termed “Stress-Track”. The device is intended to track a person’s stress levels by examining their body temperature, sweat, and motion rate during physical activity. The proposed model achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 99.5%, showcasing its potential impact on stress management and healthcare enhancement. Full article

To overcome food security, sustainable strategies for reclamation and the subsequent utilization of salt-affected soils for crop production are needed. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impacts of compost and biochar addition on the growth and fruit quality of tomato under salinity stress. For this purpose, the soil was spiked with analytical grade sodium chloride to achieve a 6 dS m⁻¹ salinity level for a pot experiment. After 30 days of spiking, the compost (2%) and biochar (2%) were added in selected pots. After the seedling transplant, recommended doses of NPK were added to fulfill nutrient requirements of tomato plants. Plants were harvested after 90 days of seedling transplantation. Results revealed that the salinity caused a significant reduction of 28.4% in SPAD value, 23.5% in Ft, 22.6% in MSI, 12.1% in RWC, 18.3% in Chl. a, 13.7% in Chl. b, and 16.5% in T. Chl. as compared to the un-amended non-saline control in physiological attributes of tomato plants. Similarly, a significant decrease of 26.9–44.1% was obtained in growth attributes of tomato as compared to the non-saline control. However, in saline soil, the addition of biochar and compost (alone or together) demonstrated a significant improvement in plant growth (i.e., up 45%) over the respective un-amended control. Moreover, the combined application of compost and biochar significantly reduced the sodium (Na⁺) in shoots and roots of tomato plants by 40% and 47%, respectively, over the respective control. Our findings suggest that the combined application of biochar and compost could be useful to reduce salinity, alleviate salinity-induced phytotoxicity, and subsequently improve plant growth and productivity in salt-affected soil. Full article

Papaya fruit has a limited shelf life due to its sensitivity to decay and chilling damage during cold storage. The application of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is known to reduce the incidence of disease and chilling injury, and to maintain the overall quality of the papaya fruit when stored at low temperature. Consequently, the effects of postharvest MeJA (1 mM) immersion on papaya fruits during low-temperature storage (10 °C ± 2 °C) for 28 days were studied. The experiment revealed that MeJA treatment significantly decreased the papaya fruit’s weight loss, disease incidence, and chilling injury index. Furthermore, the accumulation of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide was markedly lower after the application of MeJA. In addition, MeJA treatment exhibited significantly higher total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidant activity, and titratable acidity in contrast to the control. Similarly, MeJA-treated papaya fruits showed higher antioxidant enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase enzymes) with respect to the control fruits. In addition, MeJA reduced the soluble solids content, ripening index, pH, and sugar contents compared to the control fruits. Furthermore, MeJA-treated papaya fruit exhibited higher sensory and organoleptic quality attributes with respect to untreated papaya fruits. These findings suggested that postharvest MeJA application might be a useful approach for attenuating disease incidence and preventing chilling injury by enhancing antioxidant activities along with enhanced overall quality of papaya fruits during low-temperature storage. Full article

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis worldwide and a potential health risk in Pakistan due to socio-economic reasons and lack of awareness, veterinary health and modern dairy-processing facilities. The aim of this study was to determine the burden of brucellosis in hospitalized patients of selected districts of Punjab, Pakistan. To this end, a total of 280 serum samples were collected from suspected patients in districts Lahore, Okara and Khushab between 2016 and 2018. Anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in 89 (31.8%) sera by Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), and Brucella abortus DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 42 (15%) samples. In univariable analysis, the seroprevalence varied significantly (p < 0.05) between districts with Lahore indicating 41/101 (40.6%) Odds ratio (OR) = 53.98 (7.22–403.67; 95% CI), Okara 47/99 (47.5%) OR = 71.4 (9.55–533.65; 95% CI) and Khushab 1/80 (1.3%) as reference. Similarly, exposure to aborted materials and a history of blood transfusion did associate significantly (p < 0.05), posing OR = 2.91 (1.58–5.36; 95% CI) and OR = 4.48 (2.56–7.84; 95% CI) risk. However, consumption of raw milk and history of blood transfusion did associate significantly (p < 0.05) in multivariable analysis indicating OR = 1.91 (1.09–3.34; 95% CI) and OR = 4.92 (2.76–8.75; 95% CI), respectively. The association of history of blood transfusion as a brucellosis risk factor underscores the need to create brucellosis awareness programs both at public and institutional levels in the medical and veterinary fields, as well as facilities and capacity building to delve deeper into the epidemiology of brucellosis in the country. Particular attention should be paid to chronically infected patients. Therefore, laboratory modernization, standardization and validation of the diagnostic tests, and staff trainings are required. Finally, pasteurization of the milk is recommended before consumption. Full article

In this research, we investigate a resistor capacitor electric circuit that exhibits an exponentially decaying transient response. Due to uncertainty in the precise capacitance value, we treat the capacitance as a continuous uniformly distributed random variable. Using this approach, we derive the desired transient current response of the circuit as a function of the capacitance. Subsequently, we develop a probability model for the response current, expressed in terms of probability density function and cumulative distribution function. The model’s validity and correctness are verified, and it is further utilized for probabilistic analysis of the transient current. We demonstrate the application of the model for determining the probability of the transient current response reaching a specific value. By following the same procedure used to derive the probability model of the transient current, probability distributions for other circuit parameters, such as voltages and currents, can also be obtained. Furthermore, for parameters that are functions of the transient current, the probability model can also be obtained from the already derived probability model. To illustrate this, we derive the probability models of three other parameters in the circuit from the already obtained models. We also present examples to demonstrate the usage of the developed probability models. Full article

Fresh date fruits (cvs. Hillawi and Khadrawi) were harvested at the khalal stage and treated with hot water treatment (HWT) for different time durations (control, HWT-1 min, HWT-3 min, HWT-5 min, and HWT-7 min) to investigate the physicochemical characteristics, phytochemical properties, and sensory attributes. The results revealed that both date cultivars took less time to reach the tamar stage in response to HWT-7 min compared to control. However, Hillawi date fruit showed a higher fruit ripening index (75%) at HWT-3 min, while Khadrawi fruit had a higher ripening index (80%) at HWT-5 min than untreated fruit (10%). Higher weight loss and lower moisture contents were observed in Hillawi (25%) and Khadrawi (20%) date fruit as the immersion period increased in both cultivars. Moreover, soluble solid content was higher in Hillawi (11.77° Brix) in response to HWT-3 min and Khadrawi (10.02° Brix) date fruit immersed in HWT-5 min in contrast with the control group, whereas significantly lower levels of titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content were observed in Hillawi (0.162%, 0.67 mg/100 g) and Khadrawi (0.206%, 0.73 mg/100 g) date fruit in response to HWT (HWT-1 min, HWT-3 min, HWT-5 min, and HWT-7 min) than untreated fruit. Furthermore, noticeably higher levels of reducing sugar (69.83%, 57.01%), total sugar (34.47%, 31.14%), glucose (36.84%, 29.42%), fructose (33.99%, 27.61%), and sucrose (3.16%, 1.33%) were found in hot water-treated Hillawi (immersed for 3-min) and Khadrawi (immersed for 5-min) date fruit, respectively. In addition, total phenolic content, total flavonoids, total antioxidants, and total tannins were substantially superior in date fruits subjected to HWT-3 min (in Hillawi, 128 mg GAE/100 g, 61.78%, 20.18 mg CEQ/100 g) and HWT-5 min (in Khadrawi, 139.43 mg GAE/100 g, 72.84%, and 18.48 mg CEQ/100 g) compared to control. Overall, sensory attributes were recorded to be higher in Hillawi and Khadrawi date fruit after treatment for 3 min and 5 min, respectively. Our findings suggest that HWT is a promising technique that can be adopted commercially to improve fruit ripening and preserved nutritional quality of dates after harvest. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the incorporation of zirconia/silver phosphate nanoparticles to develop experimental dental adhesives and to measure their physical and mechanical properties. The nanoparticles were synthesized by the sonication method, and the phase purity, morphological pattern, and antibacterial properties with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were assessed. The silanized nanoparticles were incorporated (0, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 wt.%) into the photoactivated dimethacrylate resins. The degree of conversion (DC) was assessed, followed by the micro-hardness and flexural strength/modulus test. Long-term color stability was investigated. The bond strength with the dentin surface was conducted on days 1 and 30. The transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractogram confirmed the nano-structure and phase purity of the particles. The nanoparticles showed antibacterial activities against both strains and inhibited biofilm formation. The DC range of the experimental groups was 55–66%. The micro-hardness and flexural strength increased with the concentration of nanoparticles in the resin. The 0.5 wt.% group showed significantly high micro-hardness values, whereas a non-significant difference was observed between the experimental groups for flexural strength. The bond strength was higher on day 1 than on day 30, and a significant difference was observed between the two periods. At day 30, the 0.5 wt.% showed significantly higher values compared to other groups. Long-term color stability was observed for all the samples. The experimental adhesives showed promising results and potential to be used for clinical applications. However, further investigations such as antibacterial, penetration depth, and cytocompatibility are required. Full article

Background: Cefixime (CFX) belongs to a group of third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics with low water solubility and low intestinal permeability, which ultimately leads to significantly low bioavailability. Aim: This study aimed to increase solubility, improve drug release, and intestinal permeability of CFX by loading into SEDDS. Methods: Suitable excipients were selected based on drug solubility, percent transmittance, and emulsification efficiency. Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was fabricated for the identification of effective self-emulsification region. The best probably optimized formulations were further assessed for encumbered drug contents, emulsification time, cloud point measurement, robustness to dilution, mean droplet size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), and thermodynamic and chemical stability. Moreover, in vitro drug release studies and ex vivo permeation studies were carried out and apparent drug permeability P_app of different formulations was compared with the marketed brands of CFX. Results: Amongst the four tested SEDDS formulations, F-2 formulation exhibited the highest drug loading of 96.32%, emulsification time of 40.37 ± 3 s, mean droplet size of 19.01 ± 1.12 nm, and demonstrated improved long-term thermodynamic and chemical stability when stored at 4 °C. Release studies revealed a drug release of 97.32 ± 4.82% within 60 min in simulated gastric fluid. Similarly, 97.12 ± 5.02% release of CFX was observed in simulated intestinal fluid within 120 min; however, 85.13 ± 3.23% release of CFX was observed from the marketed product. Ex vivo permeation studies displayed a 2.7-fold increase apparent permeability compared to the marketed product in 5 h. Conclusion: Owing to the significantly improved drug solubility, in vitro release and better antibacterial activity, it can be assumed that CFX-loaded SEDDS might lead to an increased bioavailability and antibacterial activity, possibly leading to improved therapeutic effectiveness. Full article

All tropical and subtropical areas of the world are suitable for citrus cultivation. In managing fertilizer application efficiency in orchards, variable-rate technology (VRT) has been demonstrated to be an important element. This article aims to study the significance of variable-rate fertilization for citrus in the arid region of Pakistan. The NPK was calculated before the application of the variable-rate fertilizer. The plant height and stem girth were determined before and after fertilizer application. The preliminary results revealed that the stem girth performed significantly better than the plant height after applying fertilizer by VRT. The preliminary results showed a significant difference in the fruit yield between the VRT and uniform-rate fertilizer application. Full article

Crop growth and yield are influenced by the genetic potential of the cultivar, soil, weather, and cultivation practices, i.e., sowing date, irrigation and fertilizer amount, and biotic stresses. Temporal variation in yield and growth has been largely forecasted using climate as a predictor, which can be achieved by using either an empirical or crop simulation approach for a given location. Climate and soil data collected over agricultural land regularly aid in crop growth monitoring, as well as crop vitality assessment. Crop simulation models (CSM) that have been successful in field-scale applications are now being implemented in GIS framework to simulate and monitor crop growth with remote sensing inputs, allowing for sensitive evaluations of seasonal weather conditions, local variability, and crop management signals. This research was designed to monitor the growth of three varieties of kiwifruit, i.e., Hayward grafted, Green-flesh, and Hayward, in four different localities: Hazaro (Attock), Simli Dam (Pind Begwal), GPU (germ plasm unit) Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and ZTBL (Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited) Farm Islamabad, each of which has different soil and weather conditions. Soil proximal sensors were used to measure soil characteristics, and data loggers were installed in each field to monitor the weather parameters to collect data that influences crops. In this study, we used a quantitative method and GIS-integrated data to assess the impact of soil and climate on kiwifruit growth. It can help policy makers and researchers to identify new agro-climatic zones in Pakistan’s semi-arid regions for kiwifruit farming based on this data. In this study, we found that kiwi is very susceptible to temperatures above 40 °C, which cause mortality in kiwifruits plants. Morphological data with respect to soil and climate results showed that green-fleshed and Hayward varieties performed slightly better than Hayward grafted, which was most susceptible to diseases and heat damage. Full article